BTJBSAL ENLARGEMENTS. 323 



bandage. The Author believes the advantages of this system will be' 

 considerably increased by alternation with the cold water jet. These 

 bandages were introduced in England by Mr. W. Hunting, Veterinary 

 Surgeon, of 157, Fulham Road, S.W. 



645&. Further treatment. 



Further treatment is often required. If so, bromide of mercury will 

 give the best result. 



In rare cases the swelling remains as large as ever, long after all the 

 inflammation has apparently subsided, and notwithstanding the treatment 

 recommended above. If the horse is valuable, it is worth while to try 

 the effect of time and gentle exercise, such as the animal will give him- 

 self in a shed with a little yard attached. Nature under such favorable 

 circumstances may bring about a cure. 



It has often been recommended in such cases to puncture the sheath or 

 bursa, and so allow the synovia to escape. There is however great 

 danger of violent inflammation setting in on account of the admission of 

 air to the interior of the bursa. If it is decided to try the experiment, 

 the success of which is at least very doubtful, the puncture should be 

 made at the lowest convenient part of the swelling ; because the synovia, 

 which will continue to ooze out, will help to exclude the air until the 

 ordinaiy processes of healing have completely closed the orifice. Even, 

 however, if the operation is so far successful as to be unattended with any 

 injurious consequences, the probability is that the enlargement will soon 

 reappear. 



646. Decrease of Bursal Enlargements in old age. 



Bursal Enlargements have a marked tendency in many cases to de- 

 crease in old age, and it is not uncommon to find the legs of an old horse 

 quite or almost quite free from them, although in his younger days he 

 may have been much disfigured. The cause of their disappearance is no 

 doubt due to the generally decreasing energy of the reproductive system 

 in old age. 



647. Dealers. 



Dealers, with whom it is of course a great object to make a horse 

 appear to the best advantage, are great adepts in getting rid temporarily 

 of Bursal Enlargements. The means they adopt are those recommended 

 above, namely friction, pressure, sweating bandages, slight doses of 

 medicine, and laxative diet. The purchaser, however, when he puts the 

 horse to work, will generally find that these enlargements reappear. 



648. Blood Spavin. 



Blood Spavin, though not a Bursal Enlargement, is yet connected with 

 it, and may therefore perhaps be conveniently mentioned in this place. 

 In some cases, when a bog-spavin is large, its protuberance impedes the 



